Vehicle leveling device



I 1,636,620 July 19, 1927- N. BERRY VEHICLE LEVELING DEVICE Original Filed May 23, 1925 iii/ 1717329112711 20 IIII M 2 1 WITNESSES E INVENTOR W H/KBerry ATTORNEYS Patented July 19, 1927.

UNITED. STATES" 1,636,620 PATENT OFFICE.

HIBAM NEWTON BERRY, OI GBEENVILLI, IISSISBIPPI, ABSIGNOB' OI ONE-THIRD '10 HUGH A. emu, 01' GEEENVILLE, MISSISSIPPI.

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Original application fled Kay 28, 1896,

My present invention relates to vehicle levehng devices and especially such a dev 1ce which while capable of general applicat1on is particularly useful in connection with cotton picking machines, in order to permit of adjustment of the main frame with respect to the ground, whereby the machine may be operated with equal effectiveness and efiiciency in connection with high and low cotton plants.

The primaryobject of my present invention is the provision of a vehicle leveling apparatus capable of effective and efficient employment in connection with my improved cotton picking apparatus as included in my copending applications, Serial Nos. 621,835 and 716,456, respectively filed Nov. 28, 1923 and May 28, 1924, my present application being a division of my application No. 32,986, filed May 23, 1925.

It is a known fact that growing cotton greatly varies in height not only as between thevarious varieties, but also due to soil conditions and to climate in different localities, and it is for this reason that my in-,

vention proposes a leveling device by means of which the frame of the machine may be raised and lowered in the field, both easily and speedily, without necessity of stopping the machine for this purpose.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates my present invention and forms a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing certain portions of the machine including a part of the frame and illustrating the frame adjusting means proposed by my invention in Sonnection with the front wheel supports, an

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse section through certain portions of the adjusting means shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to these figures, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, I have shown certain portions of the frame of my improved construction including the platform 10, which it is desired to elevate more'or less with respect to the ground. I have also shown certain connections including a driven shaft 12, which, may be the crank shaft of the motor used topropel the machine or a shaft suitably geared to the crank shaft. ihis shaft 12 is indicated as leading to a gear or clutch box 13 which controls transflertal No. 88,986. Divided and this application filed 1898. Serial Io. 81,840.

January 14,.

mission of power from the shaft 12 to a forwardlyprojecting shaft 14, a lever 15 affording -manual means of connecting and disconnectin said shafts 12 and 14. At its forward end shaft 14 drives a forward transverse shaft 16, the latter being beveled gears 17 at its opposite ends projecting slightly beyond the sides of the latform 10 as plain y seen by comparison of Figures 1 and 2.

The wheels 18 are supported upon the lower angularly outstanding ends 19 of wheel supporting-uprights 20 whose upper reduced stems 21 project at their upper ends above the platform 10 and are connected by steering arms 22 and a drag link 23, one of the stems having a steering arm 24 connected to a steering rod 25. j

The wheel supportin uprights have boaring in the lower ends ofTxearing! tubes 26, each bearing tube being securely and permanently mounted at its upper end withm a bracket 27 attached to the side of the platform, and each tube further havin a vertical slot 28 at one side, to receive t e outstanding lug 29 of an internally threaded collar 30 slidably mounted within the tube and formin a bearing for the upper end of a coiled sprin 31 within the tube 26, the lower end of w ich spring bears against the annular upwardly facing shoulder of the wheel supportlng upright at the lower end of stem 21.

The collar 30 engages the lower threaded portion 32 of a sleeve 33 having bearing upon and around the stem 21 and having at its upper end above the upper end of the tube 26 a bevel gear 34,.engaging one of the beveled gears 17 of the cross shaft 16. At its upper end the tube 26 has an inner annular rib 35 around the sleeve 33 and it will be noted that the latter has a somewhat similar though external rib 36 below and opposing rib 35 with interposed anti-friction mem-' bers 37.

It is thus obvious that the support of the vehicle is thus sustained at all. times through the spring 31 and that upon rotation of the sleeve 33 in one direction, the platform 10 will be raised by virtue of downward pres sure against the collar 30 while upon rotation 0 the sleeve'in' the opposite direction the platform will be permitted to lower. Collar 30 cannot rotate and thus when sleeve 32 is rotated it must move up or down dothrough the hand lever 15. It is also obvious that the construction described may be applied. with equal facility and is so applied in use, to the rear wheel, the latter being driven by sprocket chains with sprocket wheels attached directly to the rear wheels.

I claim 1. In an apparatusof the character described, a frame, wheel supporting uprights having vertically adjustable connection with the frame at their upper portions and having lower angular extensions, wheels rotatable on said extensions, power actuated rotatable\ members on each upright with respect 'to which the latter is rotatable, and a non-rotatable member around each upright and shiftable lengthwise thereof, having threaded connection with the said power actuated rotatable member, and a spring compressed between a portion of each upright and of said non-rotatable member thereof.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a supporting frame, wheel supporting uprights having lower angular extem' threaded on each sleeve having a slidable non-rotatable connection within-the respective tube, and a spring around each upright, compressed between a portion thereof and said collar.

3. In anapparatusof the character described, a supporting frame, wheel supporting uprights having lower angular outstanding ends and upwardly projecting reduced stems, steering-. connections engaging the upper ends of said stems, wheels rotatable on said angular-lower ends, upright tubes se-' cured to and depending from the frame and through which said stems project, sleeves rotatable on said stems and having threaded lower portions and upper gears, connections for rotating said gears including manual controlling means, a non-rotatable collar within each tube threaded on the sleeve and a spring in each tube between the collar and a shoulder of the respective upright at the lower end of its stem.

HIRAM N. BERRY. 

